Chapter 1536: A Different Parting

A Different Parting

"Acting weird?"

Chen Ling rested his chin on one hand and began to recall.

Speaking of which, Jian Changsheng had indeed been acting a bit abnormally lately. Ever since he woke up and finished eating hotpot, it was as if he had something on his mind. He wasn't making a fuss or being sarcastic, and even spoke less. His whole person seemed to have become... more profound?

"Profound." Chen Ling couldn't imagine that Jian Changsheng could actually be associated with this word.

However, after waking up, Chen Ling had been busy with collecting the Dao Foundation Shards and the matters at the Spirit Void Domain, so he didn't directly notice Jian Changsheng's abnormality. It was only after Sun Bumian's reminder that he realized there was an issue.

"When I first woke up, I saw a sneaky shadow wandering around nearby... Looking closely, I found it was Spades." Sun Bumian continued with a strange expression, "Guess... what was he doing?"

"Doing what?"

"He washed that pair of walnuts I've been fondling for years!"

"I was dumbfounded at the time. Later, I asked him what he was doing, and he said that seeing me constantly touching these walnuts, he felt they might get a bit dirty after a long time, so he conveniently washed them... At first, I thought he was being a jerk and looking for trouble, but then I discovered that he actually even folded all my clothes neatly..."

Sun Bumian slapped his hands together hard. "Tell me if this is bizarre or what!"

"It is quite strange... but, it's not hard to guess."

Chen Ling looked into the distance and paused for a moment.

"Based on my understanding of him, he... probably has his own matters to attend to."

This wasn't the first time Jian Changsheng had fallen into this abnormal state. Back when they left the Underground Palace and headed to the Hanging Jade Domain, it was a similar situation... The 6-series members were already so familiar with each other; Jian Changsheng's little thoughts simply couldn't escape Chen Ling's eyes.

Sun Bumian seemed to have a similar guess and nodded slightly: "Mm... With Bai Qi dead, his pressure must be even greater."

Chen Ling sighed lightly.

"Let's go back and take a look first."

When Chen Ling returned to the Bridge Underpass, Jiang Xiaohua was still sleeping in the dirt. Jin Fugui was nowhere to be found, probably out begging for food. There was only a figure in a black leather jacket holding a broom, sitting on the spotless ground, staring blankly at the sunset gradually sinking into the horizon.

Seeing that back slowly elongating in the sunset, Chen Ling remained silent for a long time before still walking up behind him.

"...When are you leaving?"

"?!!!!"

Jian Changsheng was startled by the sudden voice.

"No way bro, how come you don't make any sound when you walk????"

"I'm used to it."

Jian Changsheng calmed his wildly thumping heart, and only then did he snap back to his senses, looking at Chen Ling blankly. "Leaving what..."

"Aren't you leaving?"

"You... how did you know?"

"You made it pretty obvious," Chen Ling answered somewhat guiltily.

Jian Changsheng did indeed make it very obvious, but he had been too busy and didn't notice it immediately...

Jian Changsheng hesitated for a moment, but still nodded:

"Mm... I need to take a trip to the Ancient Vault of the Military Path. Probably... leaving tonight."

"So urgent?"

"I was originally supposed to leave two days ago, but Diamonds hadn't woken up yet. I wanted to bid you all farewell before leaving."

Chen Ling frowned. He sniffed a hint of something unusual from Jian Changsheng's few words:

"Is it very dangerous?"

"No, it's not dangerous." Jian Changsheng immediately waved his hand. "It's just... I don't know when I'll be back. If things go smoothly, a few months? If not... it might take a long time."

Chen Ling lowered his head, looked into Jian Changsheng's eyes, and said seriously:

"You actually don't need to push yourself so hard. Going all the way from being a nobody in Aurora City to now, you're already very formidable."

"Hehe, true..." Jian Changsheng subconsciously raised the corners of his mouth, but then quickly suppressed it. "But... it's still not enough. I can become even stronger!"

"Why are you so obsessed with becoming stronger?"

"Only when I'm stronger can I beat you to the ground!" Jian Changsheng shook his fist at Chen Ling. "Until now, I've never won against you once! This time, when I return from the Ancient Vault of the Military Path, I will definitely make you willingly admit defeat!"

Chen Ling smiled helplessly and didn't try to persuade him any further. He knew that things Jian Changsheng had decided on were not so easily changed.

"Then leave after eating." Chen Ling glanced to the side.

"There are still some hotpot ingredients left from last time, and Diamonds has been clamoring about not getting to eat... Let's have a meal together, considered as a farewell for you."

"...Okay!"

Jian Changsheng nodded heavily.

...

The night grew darker, and an orange bonfire was lit in the dimness, letting out bursts of crackling sounds.

Under the crude Bridge Underpass, four figures gathered around the fire, skillfully opening packets of ingredients and pouring them into the boiling hotpot...

Jin Fugui hadn't returned. It was unknown whether he had run too far to beg for food, or if he was tied down in some corner of the domain by a certain black-skirted young girl acting under someone's instructions... In short, this was a farewell dinner exclusive to the 6-series members.

Chen Ling poured the opened ingredients into the hotpot;

Sun Bumian used his chopsticks to swish tripe for Jian Changsheng;

Jian Changsheng didn't do anything; he just sat to the side holding his chopsticks, watching somewhat awkwardly as Sun Bumian placed the steaming tripe into his bowl.

"Eat." Sun Bumian raised his chin like a domineering CEO. "This great master personally cooked it for you."

Jian Changsheng: ...

"Clubs, see what this is?" Chen Ling patted the ground gently with his hand.

In the next second, the dirt beside Jiang Xiaohua loosened, and an arm-sized centipede popped its head out from underground, holding up a vat of richly fragrant Five Poison Wine and placing it into Jiang Xiaohua's hands.

Jiang Xiaohua's eyes visibly brightened!

"Five Poison Wine!!"

"I promised you this before entering the Ancient Vault of the Ghost Path." Chen Ling smiled. "It took some time for them to deliver it from the Ghost Mockery Abyss... But today, you can drink to your heart's content."

Without another word, Jiang Xiaohua opened the lid of the wine vat and began to chug itglug glug glug.

"Drink slower, leave some for me!" Jian Changsheng became a bit anxious.

"You're drinking too?"

"I'm drinking! I have to drink today!"

Otherwise, who knew if there would be another chance to drink together in the future.

Jian Changsheng didn't say the latter half of the sentence out loud... This trip to the Ancient Vault of the Military Path carried extreme risks. A slight carelessness would result in becoming an Annihilated Soul. Add on the turbulent situation in the Human Domains now, who knew what the future would hold?

Even Jian Changsheng, who didn't usually like to drink much, didn't want to miss this opportunity, and poured himself a full cup as well.

The bonfire reflected on Chen Ling's face. He took in everything about Jian Changsheng...

He didn't say much.

After a long while, he proactively raised his wine cup:

"Then come on, cheers!"

"Cheers!"

The bonfire blazed, and the wine and meat flowed continuously;

It wasn't that they hadn't experienced partings in the past. But during those times, there might have been concealments, unwillingness, anger, and incomprehension... They would chase after each other and question each other. But this time, they only had reluctance and nostalgia.

At this moment, all four of them vaguely felt a certain sensation in their hearts.

This parting,

Seemed... a bit different.